Here's your latest new guy, looking for info!!

Got a question:

I test drove a 2001 Santa Fe V6 AWD this morning that will probably be a replacement for my trusty Kia Sportage that got wrecked in an accordion collision last week. (Perp: "I must have had a senior moment. I thought I was pressing the brake." Geesh!!) The price is great, the car is cherry, but I could hear a very faint but definite whine from the rear of the car when I kept a steady pressure on the accelerator to maintain speed. Increasing or decreasing speed made the sound quit.

So, is this common to the AWD Santa Fe? If it's no big deal, and I've heard it in other cars for forty-plus years, then I'll probably drop the $$ tomorrow and buy the car. BTW, assuming I get the car, I plan to change all the vital fluids within a month or two. I'll probably use synthetic gear lube in the transfer case and rear end.

Oh yeah, another question: Is the rear differential a limited slip unit?

:00000732:

Glad to hear you're okay and I'm sorry for the loss of your Sportage. As for the whine, did you notice it at freeway speeds and did it stop if you lifted off the gas pedal?

If so this is a normal final drive whine associated with the SM Santa Fe, specifically the 2.7 liter. People have had their entire transmissions replaced and could not evict this noise. I've learned to live with it by just keeping the radio up. And even with the radio down or off, I don't notice it. My brain just tunes it out. If it really bothers you to the point where you would not want the car because of the sound, I'd look somewhere else. :57:

I do not believe the Santa Fe was sold in the States with a limited slip. The closest you'll come to that is the traction control system on the 3.5 liter models from '03 to '06.

As for the vital fluids, my only warning to you is this: heed what Hyundai says and only use their automatic transmission fluid. Get it from the Hyundai dealer even if you find a brand elsewhere claiming to 'meet OEM specification'. I could span the forums a couple times with the horror stories I've heard over the years about people who didn't use the Hyundai ATF. Not sure about the gear oil, though. You should be okay.

I hope you go through with your purchase. You won't regret it. I'm at 100,000 miles and still cooking. :banana:

This post has been edited by lovemysantafe: Sep 18 2008, 04:46 AM

Okay, I did it. Bought the Santa Fe. It's in beautiful condition, a Carfax report revealed that it's been very well taken care of. Just shy of 98,000 miles. The rear drive whine is gone if I'm gaining or losing speed. Everything works. No leaks, underside would be clean even for a new car, new tires, new battery. All for $6200 out the door, including tax and title. With the wife's '07 Tucson, we are a two-Hyundai family.

Sure beats that POS Kia Sportage that got wrecked last week. I have moved up in the world!

Congrats on your purchase and happy driving! :clap: